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Landlords and tenants in Maryland must become familiar with Maryland’s landlord-tenant laws. These laws spell out the specific rules and responsibilities both landlords and tenants must follow. Under Maryland law, tenants have a right to freedom from housing discrimination, a right to certain security deposit protections, the right to freedom from landlord retaliation, and the right to be protected after domestic violence.

What rights does a tenant have?

The rights of a tenant – As a tenant in a private rented property, your tenancy agreement (which should be co-signed by you and your landlord before you move in) provides you with several rights:

The right to live in a property that’s safe and in a good state of repair The right to have your deposit returned at the end of the tenancy (provided that you meet the terms of your tenancy agreement). If you started your tenancy after 2007 and have an assured shorthold tenancy agreement, then your deposit should also be protected by the landlord for the duration of the tenancy As part of this, you’ll have the ability to challenge any charges that you believe are ‘excessively high’ The right to know the identity of your landlord The right to live in the property undisturbed The right to see the property’s energy performance certificate (EPC), which, except in very specific circumstances, should be rated a minimum of E. The right to be protected from unfair rent and unfair eviction The right to have a written agreement if you have a fixed-term tenancy of more than three years As of 1 June 2019, to not have to pay certain fees when setting up a new tenancy under the Tenant Fees Act (commonly referred to as the Tenant Fee Ban).

If you have a written tenancy agreement, it should be fair and compliant with the law. Many sample tenancy agreements are available online, such as this one from the,GOV website, If you don’t think you’ve received one from your landlord, inquire immediately.

• That way, your rights are protected.
• Likewise, if you’re reading the above and you’re not sure who your landlord is, you can inquire with your letting agent or the person you rented the property from.
• Your landlord has a legal requirement to let you know who they are, and they can be fined if they fail to tell you within 21 days.

If you’re unsure, but you have a tenancy agreement, read it carefully as this is where the information’s usually displayed. In addition to the above, if you live in Scotland and have started a new assured or short assured tenancy, then your landlord must provide you with what’s known as a tenant information pack.

How much notice does a landlord have to give in Maryland?

How much notice must a landlord give a tenant to vacate? – The landlord must give written notice, at least two months for single-family and multi-family units, if there is no breach of lease. (See Section VII, Terminating the Lease, Landlord-Tenant Handbook),

MC311 KBA: Notice to Vacate at Expiration of Initial Lease Term or in Month-to-Month Tenancy – Landlord

Can landlord lock you out Maryland?

A landlord who moves a tenant’s be- longings out of the home, changes the locks, or cuts off utilities without a court order may be criminally pros- ecuted and liable for damages. If this happens, tenants should call the police and an attorney or legal services organization.

Can you evict a tenant in Maryland?

Issues for Landlords – My tenant stopped paying rent, what can I do?

• What action? When a tenant fails to pay rent, the landlord may seek eviction and money damages. NEW: Before filing a Failure to Pay Rent case with the District Court, tenant’s must be provided with a notice of the Landlord’s intent to do so. The notice must tell the tenant how much rent is due and give them 10 days to pay. Landlords should use the form, Notice of Intent To File A Complaint For Summary Ejectment (Failure To Pay Rent) (DC-CV-115),
• How to file? After giving proper notice of past due rent, the landlord may file a Failure to Pay Rent form (DC-CV-082). File the form in the District Court in the county where the rental property is located.
• How to give notice? After the case is filed, the tenant will need be served. The District Court, sheriff, or constable will mail copies of the papers to the tenant and post them on the property, or you can request that the sheriff or constable serve the tenant in person (for a fee). You can also arrange for private process service, where a company or individual will serve the tenant for you, in addition to the service by the sheriff or constable.
• What happens in court? On the trial date, if either party fails to appear, the court may dismiss the case, issue a judgment, or postpone the trial. If both parties are present, the judge will listen to evidence from both sides. If the court finds in favor of the landlord, the court may enter judgment for possession. In Baltimore City, special notice requirements apply.
• What happens after judgment? After the court enters judgment for possession, the tenant no longer has the right to live in the property. See the next section about Evictions.

How do I evict a tenant?

• What action? For failure to pay rent cases the eviction process cannot start until 4 business days have passed from the time the court entered a judgment for possession in favor of the landlord. For breach of lease cases, or tenant holding over cases ( refuses to leave), the landlord may seek eviction immediately.
• What do I need to do first? Obtain a judgment for possession against the tenant from the District Court. See “How to File” above.
• How to file? The landlord may file a Petition for Warrant of Restitution (DC-CV-081), The court will decide whether to enter an Order for Warrant of Restitution.
• How to give notice? The landlord is not responsible for notifying the tenant of the time of eviction. However, it makes sense to do so because it gives the tenant the chance to remove personal property before the eviction. This is not the case in Baltimore City. Special notice of eviction date rules apply to Failure to Pay Rent cases.
• How to evict the tenant? The sheriff or constable must be present during the eviction. To begin the process of eviction, the landlord requests a Warrant of Restitution. In a failure to pay rent case, the Landlord must make the request within 60 days of judgment or the expiration of any stay of execution. The eviction cannot take place on a Sunday or holiday. Once property is removed from the premises, the tenant is responsible for its safety. In Baltimore City, special property removal restrictions apply,

Do long term tenants have rights?

Here are the sitting tenant rights and their implications: – A sitting tenant cannot be evicted unless they break the terms of their existing tenancy agreement. The property must be sold as a going concern, which means that it is part of the sale deal that includes homes for sitting tenants as well as vacant possession.

• If the tenant has an ongoing contract or agreement with their original landlord, then they retain the right to live in the property when it changes hands.
• The tenant in situ also has the right to remain in the property until their tenancy reaches its natural end or they are evicted for good cause.
• A sitting tenant has the right to occupy a property for life without being disturbed and should a sitting tenant die, they are allowed to pass on the tenancy to a spouse or another family member.

If the tenant in situ leaves before the deal is complete, they will have no obligation to contribute towards legal professional fees or other costs of legal requirement incurred by the buyer when taking over possession of the property. A sitting tenant cannot be charged more than once for any single service provided by a landlord during any given tenancy (such as repairs and maintenance), unless more than one thing happened simultaneously, such as an upward and downward repair during a tenancy.

What are three responsibilities you have as a tenant?

Rights and Duties of Tenants – In addition to the duties of the tenant set forth in the lease itself, the common law imposes three other obligations: (1) to pay the rent reserved (stated) in the lease, (2) to refrain from committing waste (damage), and (3) not to use the premises for an illegal purpose.

Can my landlord evict me for no reason?

Evictions – At the end of a fixed term tenancy, landlords don’t need a reason to evict tenants – as long as they’ve given tenants the correct notice, they can apply to a court for a possession order. If the court grants a possession order and tenants still don’t leave, landlords must apply for a warrant for eviction – meaning bailiffs can remove tenants from the property.

Under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, landlords can only evict tenants with a court order, and even then tenants have the right to stay until the landlord gets a bailiff’s warrant. Landlords must follow strict procedures if they want tenants to leave their property, depending on the type of tenancy agreement in place and its terms.

If they don’t, they may be guilty of illegally evicting or harassing tenants. We will assess whether we have a duty to house someone by using statutory tests including proof of a local connection to the area, and residency of up to three years. If we conclude we do not have a duty to house someone, the following takes place:

where the applicant is not capable of independent living they are referred to Adult Social Care services where the applicant has children but is ineligible for housing due to immigration status, they are referred to Children and Young People’s services

Please bear in mind that all councils in London have long waiting lists made up of thousands of households, many in high housing need. All other housing options are also explored, including London-wide and east London sub-regional schemes. This can involve applying to the Council’s housing register waiting list and bidding for properties through the east London sub-regional Choice-Based Lettings system, and similar schemes, based upon the unique circumstances of each individual.

Can a tenant refuse entry to landlord in Maryland?

Landlord Right to Entry in Maryland – There is no statewide standard on landlord entry notification. As such, Maryland landlords are free to enter without permission, unless lease provisions state the contrary. Both parties must agree to entry notification procedures in a lease agreement. Landlords are allowed to enter without permission in emergencies.

Do landlords have a duty of care to tenants?

The Defective Premises Act 1972 – Your landlord owes you certain duties of care that are set out in this Act. They include a duty to prevent personal injury or damage to property caused by defects in your home. This duty is owed to you, members of your family, and also to visitors to your home.

What are landlords responsible for in Maryland?

Utilities are essential services necessary to make a dwelling livable. These include electricity, gas, water/sewage disposal, and trash collection. Protective Orders can provide housing protections. Maryland laws also give victims of domestic violence in rental housing added protections.

A “residential lease” is an oral or written contract between a landlord and a renter, giving the renter the right to live in a house or apartment. This article briefly outlines several common concepts having to do with residential leases and the duties of landlords and renters. This article defines what a security deposit is and what is required of tenants and landlords.

This article discusses the Maryland Accessibility Code, which provides certain rights to individuals with disabilities and their families when they rent living space. Federal and state law prohibits discrimination in the rental, sale, advertising and financing of housing on the basis of your race, color, religion, gender, national origin, family status.

• People often wrongly assume that any discrimination by a landlord is illegal.
• To discriminate” means simply to distinguish among available choices.
• Some of these distinctions are lawful; others are not.
• Leases are binding contracts between landlords and tenants.
• Maryland law imposes certain conditions on that contract but otherwise landlords and tenants are free to negotiate their own agreement.

Terminating a lease in Public, HUD, or Section 8 housing must follow correct procedure. Holding Over is when a tenant continues to live in a premises after the lease has expired. When a landlord consents to a holdover tenant remaining on the premises, a new monthly or weekly tenancy is created.

This articles lists the requirements for terminating or modifying a tenancy. It also covers what happens if a tenant or landlord dies. This article describes the conditions and requirements for a landlord to evict a tenant for breaching the lease. This law provides for eviction and other remedies if any property, residential or commercial, including mobile homes, is being used for drug-related activity.

If a tenant, a family member or guest or someone under the tenant’s control in public, Section 8, or HUD Housing is involved in criminal activity, the housing authority does not have to provide a hearing before filing a breach of lease action in District Court.

• One of the facts of life in a rental situation is that there is no substitute for a good landlord or a good tenant.
• Laws can define the relationship and the responsibilities of each party but there are always situations that are best resolved by being decent, courteous and fair.
• Maryland state law prohibits the landlord from taking possession of the premises or tenant’s property without legal process.

Should a lockout occur, the tenant has the right to hire a locksmith, change the locks, re-enter the premises, and hold the landlord responsible for the cost involved. This article describes when a tenancy may be terminated in public housing, Section 8, and HUD properties.

This article describes the procedure for eviction for failure to pay rent, known as “summary ejectment”. Employees of the federal government, Maryland State government, and a local government in Maryland have certain protections during a government shutdown where the employee is involuntarily furloughed from work.

These protections apply even if the employee is required to report to work during the furlough. If you are the tenant or other person with the right to possess a property, you may ask someone to leave. Even if you gave that person permission to enter the property, your guest must leave when you ask.

• If a guest or squatter refuses to leave, you may ask the court to issue an order to remove them by filing a “wrongful detainer” action in District Court.
• The article describes the process of going to rent court.
• Landlords can take their tenants to rent court to evict them for nonpayment of rent.
• In an eviction proceeding for non-payment of rent, breach of lease, or holding over, if either tenant or landlord asks for a jury trial, tenant must pay into an escrow account all rent as it becomes due during the course of the action.

It is against the law in Maryland for a landlord to evict a tenant just because the tenant has brought suit against the landlord or participated in a suit against the landlord. Distress for rent is a court procedure in which the landlord seeks to seize and sell certain of the tenant’s possessions which are on the leased premises.

The business of owning and managing residential rental property is much like any business. It takes research, planning and knowledge. As a Maryland landlord, it is important that you know the federal, state and local laws governing the landlord tenant relationship. If you are thinking of becoming a landlord, it is important to know the federal, state, and local laws governing the landlord-tenant relationship.

This article will suggest some guidelines and resources. Landlords are responsible to collect and handle security deposits in strict compliance with the law, to maintain certain records and receipts, and to post or provide certain information for tenants.

1. Landlords must assure that tenants get possession of the premises, but retain a right to enter the premises for reasonable purposes.
2. This law provides standards for the protection of consumers, including tenants and prospective tenants of residential property.
3. You can use this list of questions to check an apartment before you move in.

One of the facts of life in a rental situation is that there is no substitute for a good landlord or a good tenant. Laws can define the relationship and the responsibilities of each party but there are always situations that are best resolved by being decent, courteous and fair.

1. You have a right to carefully inspect an apartment or house before you put a deposit on it and especially before you sign a lease.
2. This article describes the reasons to and how to get renter’s insurance.
3. Landlords must assure that tenants get possession of the premises, but retain a right to enter the premises for reasonable purposes.

Sharing an apartment with a friend or an acquaintance can be fun and economically worthwhile. Such sharing can also create some interesting problems. A sublease is an agreement in which the original tenant leases to a subtenant all or part of the rented premises for all or part of the remainder of the original tenant’s term.

• The tax relief provided by this law is based on a calculation that includes your total income and the actual amount paid as occupancy rent.
• There are times when a tenant needs a cosigner.
• Sometimes a tenant, through frugal spending habits, can actually pay the required rent, but doesn’t meet the basic income requirements of the industry.

Utilities are essential services necessary to make a dwelling livable. These include electricity, gas, water/sewage disposal, and trash collection. Lease option agreements give tenants the option of purchasing the property. A lease is any oral or written agreement, express or implied, creating a landlord-tenant relationship.

• The law limits the amount of rent active military personnel have to pay if they are transferred.
• This article defines what a security deposit is and what is required of tenants and landlords.
• A lease is a contract.
• A minor is generally not bound by his or her contracts.
• This means that, if a minor enters into a contract, the law will allow the minor to “void” the contract.

A description of county laws and rules apply only to residents and property in Anne Arundel County. In all residential leases in Baltimore City, whether oral or written, it is implied that the landlord covenants and warrants that the dwelling is fit for human habitation.

• Baltimore City has a law proscribing how a landlord may dispose of a former tenant’s possessions after the tenant has been evicted.
• Baltimore City has many special laws regarding lead paint abatement.
• When a landlord delays unreasonably or refuses to repair a condition which threatens the life, health or safety of the tenant, the rent escrow law provides several remedies, including the payment of rent into court so that the accumulated funds may be used to pay for repairs.

Special laws for landlord/tenant issues Beginning on January 1, 2019, Baltimore City landlords must have a license to operate their premises or else lose their right to collect rent. This law provides that before any voluntary transfer of title, such as a sale, of a single-family residential rental property takes place, the tenant of that property has the right of first refusal to purchase it.

How to raise your concerns at a Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals hearing in Baltimore City. The following rental housing laws and rules apply specifically to residents and property in Baltimore County. Maryland state law may also apply. Some of these rules only apply to residential property. Rental and housing laws vary from county to county.

Local laws are one of the three different types of law that may apply to your rental or housing situation. Montgomery County law requires landlords to fulfill certain requirements before and during a tenancy. Special Laws that apply to Montgomery County and cities within.

• Powers of the Human Relations Commission to eliminate discriminatory practices in housing in Prince George’s County.
• The Prince George’s County Housing Code sets minimum standards for all structures intended or used for human habitation.
• The following laws and rules apply only to residents or property in Prince George’s County.

Note that the following rules apply only to Prince George’s County, and do not apply to any other areas of Maryland. The law requires some residential properties to have carbon monoxide alarms. Landlords have responsibility to use ordinary care to keep common areas in safe condition.

• Utilities are essential services necessary to make a dwelling livable.
• These include electricity, gas, water/sewage disposal, and trash collection.
• Improvements to a leased property are changes made to the interior space that are permanent in nature.
• Maryland and federal laws about lead paint are designed to reduce childhood lead poisoning.

This article describes the duties of landlords and property owners of residential housing built before 1978. Maryland and federal laws about lead paint are designed to reduce childhood lead poisoning. This article describes the rights of tenants and prospective buyers of residential housing built before 1978.

Tenants must return the premises at the end of the tenancy in substantially the same condition as when they moved in. During the tenancy, the tenant is entitled to “quiet enjoyment” of the premises. Residential requirements for smoke alarms and sprinkler systems If a tenant, a family member or guest or someone under the tenant’s control in public, Section 8, or HUD Housing is involved in criminal activity, the housing authority does not have to provide a hearing before filing a breach of lease action in District Court.

Terminating a lease in Public, HUD, or Section 8 housing must follow correct procedure. This article describes when a tenancy may be terminated in public housing, Section 8, and HUD properties. This article includes a brief comparison of the types of rules that apply to tenants based on the type of government subsidy received.

All of the Maryland rules governing landlord and tenant relations in privately owned rentals also apply, however, there are some added protections that only apply to section 8, HUD, and public housing. Housing Choice Vouchers (section 8 vouchers) cover part of a tenant’s rent. Vouchers may also be used to buy a house.

Explanations of common lawsuits between Landlords and Tenants. The article describes the process of going to rent court. Landlords can take their tenants to rent court to evict them for nonpayment of rent. This article lists many question you might have with rent escrow.

• Rent escrow provides a process through which a tenant pays rent into a court account instead of to the landlord until the landlord makes needed repairs.
• You can file a petition to establish a rent escrow account in your local District Court by filling out a “Petition in Action of Rent Escrow” form.
• In Maryland, the owner of any property – an occupied apartment building as well as vacant, unimproved land – may subject that property to condominium ownership by following the procedure prescribed by law.

Maryland law provides protections for tenants when the property is foreclosed. Tenant’s rights when the property is sold. A sublease is an agreement in which the original tenant leases to a subtenant all or part of the rented premises for all or part of the remainder of the original tenant’s term.

What state is the most tenant friendly?

Top 10 Least Landlord-Friendly States in 2022 – Certain states favor tenants over landlords. Generally, these tenant friendly states tend to fall on the Northern side of the country while Southern states tend to be more landlord-friendly. This divide dates back to the country’s early days.

The Southern states depended mostly on agriculture and were populated with landowners. So, laws were written to protect the landowners and their properties. The Northern states, which were more reliant on manufacturing and trade, developed rental policies that favored renters to foster immigration. In tenant friendly states, landlords find it more difficult to evict renters, screening is more circumspect, and security deposit restrictions are very strict.

Apart from being one of the most expensive housing markets in the United States, New York has a lot of restrictive policies concerning landlords and investors. These policies tend to differ depending on the type, size, and peculiar condition of the rental.

These policies specify how long you rent, how much you can charge for application fees and late fees, how much you can collect as security deposit and for rent. As an example, you can only charge $50 or 5% of the monthly rent, whichever is less, as a late fee. Property taxes vary widely in New York. In the Big Apple, property owners pay 0.88% while in Suffolk county, landlords pay up to 2.37% in property taxes.

The average property tax statewide is 1.69%. While California is one of the states with low property tax rates, several cities in California have rent control on residential real estate properties. California was one of the first states to put statewide rent control into law.

• Rent must not be increased by more than 7% in a year.
• Renters who have occupied a property for up to a year cannot be evicted without cause. Non-payment of rent is the most common legal cause of eviction in Oregon.
• Landlords who violate these laws will have to pay tenants up to three months’ rent plus damages.

Washington is in between landlord friendly and tenant friendly. Depending on the reason for the eviction, evictions may take longer than a month. But a landlord has to give at least a 5 day eviction notice before starting proceedings. There is rent control in places like DC.

Also, in Seattle, landlords have to obey the “first-in-time” or FIT rule. First adopted in 2016, this law dictates that landlords must rent their property to the first tenant who meets the requirements. Seattle prohibits landlords from actively choosing their tenants, forcing them to screen applications according to when they were submitted and give tenancy to the first qualified tenant.

The Old Line State has several provinces that impose rent control policies. Landlords are mandated in Maryland to be registered and licensed before accepting tenants. Also, Maryland has strict regulations on security deposits, late fees, and lease agreements.

Landlords must give tenants a written 10-day notice for unpaid rent. Evictions can take up to two months. According to RentCafe, Vermont is the most tenant friendly state in the United States based on a ranking system that focused on particular aspects of the landlord-tenant relationship, such as legislation on security deposits, eviction notices, and rent increases.

Eviction for unpaid rent must follow a 14-day written notice by the landlord. Landlords must give a 60-day notice before increasing rent. Landlords need to provide a 48-hour notice before entering the premises and a 14-day notice for eviction due to unpaid rent.

• Nebraska has a median property tax rate of 1.76%, much higher than the national average.
• Landlords are allowed to withhold security deposits for not more than 14 days after the tenant moves out.
• Tenants are allowed to withhold rent if important repairs are not carried out.
• The Ocean State has a median tax rate of 1.36%.

A 20-day notice is required for eviction and tenants are allowed to make repairs and deduct the cost from the rent. The landlord must give a 48-hour notice before entering the property. Tenants are allowed to withhold rent and “repair and deduct” if the landlord fails to make major repairs.

1. Late fees must be clearly stated in the lease agreement and must not be more than 5% of the rent.
2. State laws in Delaware allow tenants to withhold rent payments if major repairs aren’t carried out or deduct the costs of repairs from their rent.
3. A 5-day notice is required for non-payment of rent before eviction.

To raise the rent, landlords must give a 60 day notice to their tenants.

Which states are best for renters?

Final thoughts for renters – Today, buying a house may not be an option for most people. Listing prices are sky-high, and many workers have been laid off due to the pandemic, making renting a more attractive option for many Americans. Fortunately, living somewhere cheap doesn’t always mean you have to sacrifice safety or choice.